Jammu, March 12, KNT: The elderly man accused of attacking National Conference president Farooq Abdullah was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the incident and has given conflicting statements during questioning, police sources said.
Sources said the accused, identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, gave two different versions of events during questioning conducted shortly after the incident and again the following morning, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to police sources, soon after the incident, the accused appeared confident during initial questioning and claimed that he had wanted to kill Abdullah for the past two decades, describing it as his “objective in life,” though he did not explain the reason behind the claim.
The accused also told investigators that he had been present at the venue as an invitee and that the hosts of the event were his relatives.
Reliable sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that during sustained questioning by a group of police officers later in the night and again in the morning, investigators formed a preliminary view that the accused was drunk when he allegedly fired the shot at Abdullah.
Police sources added that the accused appeared to be in a repentant state the following day and gave statements that contradicted his earlier claims.
Sources said the suspect has provided several inconsistent accounts during interrogation and is being questioned alternately by different officers as part of the ongoing probe.
Police have also questioned neighbours and relatives of the accused in an attempt to gather more information about his background and movements prior to the incident.
Officials said investigators are examining the circumstances in which the accused reached the venue and whether he had any prior connection with anyone.
The attack on the Farooq Abdullah has triggered political reactions across Jammu and Kashmir, with several leaders condemning the incident and demanding a thorough investigation.
Police sources said the investigation is continuing and more details are expected to emerge as questioning of the accused and witnesses progresses. [KNT]
